Avanti R2, 1963, refresh

[unimogjohn]

It is Sunday, August 2nd, PM. Another busy day. We started to the day by finishing moving and stacking three tons of wood pellets (150 bags @ 40 lbs per bag). They are now all on the back deck waiting for their time in the stove. We are ready for winter.

Hudson Jon called up this morning. He just put on brand new period looking radial tires (Coker Classic, 16 inch) on his 1937 Hudson Terraplane convertible; and is getting a bad vibration and the rear end is really loose at speed. So he wanted to put the car on the two post lift and take a look to see if there was anything suspect.

Jon only lives a few houses away so he started over. Got to our driveway and the car stalled out and would not restart. In fact the starter pinion would not disengage from the flywheel. So he disconnected the battery and loosened up the starter until the pinion disengaged. He made a small mistake and forgot to put on the cable back on the starter and left it loose. He then connected up the negative cable to the battery and the sparks few. I grabbed the cable away from the body of the car to stop all the sparks.

With that cable reconnected we looked over the engine to find out why it was not firing. With a little trouble shooting it looked like the choke flap on the carb was all the way closed, I mean tightly closed. No air was going to get in. I played with the linkage and the flap opened up and the car started.

Jon headed up the hill and went to stop, and his brake pedal went to the floor. He almost went through the fence line before he pulled the emergency brake. But he stopped and we pulled the car onto the lift. What happened to the brakes, fluid everywhere. Well it turns out the battery cable was flapping around and hit the brake line a couple of times. Melted holes in the line. So off it came for replacement.

I inspected the car and could not see anything that could be the vibration problem. Did find the exhaust system loose and rattling around; and the front sway bar end link rubbers were almost non-existent. Jon is going to buy those parts tomorrow, and we will put it back together to see if anything changed after the repairs.

[SeventhSon]

Your first customer!

[unimogjohn]

Chris, yes! And I am sure that I will get many more. When are you coming over? We will throw your Avanti up on the lift for a good "look see".

[DavidAU]

Maybe the wheels need to be balanced?

[unimogjohn]

David, the tires are brand new and were balanced when the tires were put on. I am going to suggest moving them around to see if that helps or hurts. Jon said that there was no vibration initially, but it has gotten worse over the past 300 miles or so. I can see no abnormal wear on the tires either. They are inflated to 35 psi, the side wall says a max of 41 psi. The car is unloaded so 35 should be good.

[unimogjohn]

It is Monday, August 3rd. Going to finish hanging the double bubble insulation today if it kills me. And Hudson Jon should be back over sometime today with parts.

In the meantime, we have a report from Greg.

"Old sayings:

According to Aviator King, "If at first you don't succeed....so much for skydiving."

Another more applicable: "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing over".

Saga of the black Avanti 5054.

Finally after all that trouble shooting to find the problem with the match between the intake manifold and the cylinder head ports (sucking air) and then the Champion spark plugs going comatose, I had just remarked about how good it was starting.

Content that I could try making the quarter mile round trip to the shop and back, just as I was about to pull the car into its stall, an alarming valve clatter and the oil pressure dropped.

Another old saying: There's always time for that last minute awshit.

Fearing another wiped camshaft, I pulled the valve covers to find excessive rocker arm clearance. Not good. I prepared myself for engine removal and another overhaul.

Yesterday I had removed enough to visually inspect the flat tappets. They didn't look bad. Flashlight and mirror to look at the camshaft lobes also didn't reveal anything alarming.

Next was to remove the camshaft for inspection and measurement. Resuming the extraction, I found that the camshaft was stuck. I made a slide hammer and only with force would it budge. It sure didn't go in that way. Finally with enough effort the shaft began to come out. Then it resisted completely. That's when I noticed a cam bearing was seized to the camshaft's bearing journal.

Time to resume the engine removal. It would have come out today except that the shop engine crane is nowhere to be found. That's like misplacing a deep freeze. Gave up in frustration. Guess I'll have to borrow one to keep this show on the road.

I don't understand how, after all these years of engine overhauls without incident, I'm seeing these cam problems for the first time."

=

Edited August 3, 2015 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[packick]

John:

 

"and the front sway bar end link rubbers were almost non-existent. Jon is going to buy those parts tomorrow"

 

I wonder how Hudson Jon can get ahold of these parts in just one day for a 1937 Hudson Terraplane?  It takes me at least a week to find, purchase and expedite-ship those parts for my Packard.  Maybe I should have bought a Hudson?

[unimogjohn]

Joe, the rubber for the end links look like the modern stuff. I think that they will be a mix and match kind of effort. Also the local Carquest makes up brake lines too.

Still Monday, but early PM. Up and at it. Alice and I managed to measure, cut and hang the last of the double bubble reflective insulation. Took about four hours or so. Now we are going to pack and move the shelving into the garage. Of course we have to assemble them. I have two big shelving units in the shed. I have to unpack them and we are going to try to get them out tomorrow morning. Going to be interesting.

And the Passat W8 battery came.

[SeventhSon]

John, I have to make it over there sooner, rather than later. Last two times I attempted coming over it was a big fail - maybe third time will be the charm!

 

I would like to take a look at what I'm going to be in for with the "hog trough" replacement, among other things. 

 

Regarding Greg's engine - sorry to hear that, what a tough break right out of the gate. Hope it's not too big of a backward step to get that motor up and running.

[SeventhSon]

P.S. I have to admire you and Alice's tenacity - the garage is really coming together. Tons of work, and quite a few pounds of money too, I reckon.

[unimogjohn]

Chris, come on over anytime. I expect that I will give an accounting of the garage costs in a day or so. Just cannot force myself to tally up the final number. At least it is all paid for.

Hudson Jon came over in the afternoon with his bag of parts for the 1937 Hudson. He ran the new brake line, and I tackled the front roll bar. We got them both done. Today we will bleed the brakes and he can head for home. It is a great test for the two post lift. It is really nice to work under the car standing up. And let me tell you about the AC. It was 95 degrees outside, and 72 inside the garage. What comfort.

[trimacar]

I won't name names, to protect the guilty, but you mention standing up under the car.  There's a friend (nameless as stated) who raises the car up not so high on his lift, then gets in his office chair, and works under the car while sitting down.  Just sayin'.........

 

The day I retired is the day I started insulating my garage and installing a unit (Mitsubishi split unit, heat pump, highly recommended) to condition the air....as you mention, John, it's great to be able to work comfortably......

[MCHinson]

Like everyone else, I am enjoying your garage story and wondering what your next big project could possibly be.

 

While I don't have any lifts I do enjoy my air conditioned garage. Every few months I get this nice notice from the power company that shows how I use a bit more electricity than other similar sized homes. They want me to sign up for some type of energy conservation program. They have no idea that I am the only one on thier comparison graph with an air conditioned (and heated) 24 X 36 garage. It sure makes working on the cars more fun.   

[unimogjohn]

Matt, with a garage that big "you need a lift". Really not much money in the grand scheme of things, just a mere $1,500.

I finished putting together six shelving units. They will go on the far wall and be used for the storage of spare parts. Each shelving will have all the spares for one car. Now the have parts all over the place and every hidden corner. I know where they are, but no one else does and would probably call them "junk".

And here are a couple of pics of Hudson Jon's parts all installed. Waiting for him to come over this PM so we can bleed his brakes and send him on his way. Jon told me that the 1937 Terraplane did not have this type of sway bar, but did for 1938. The factory offered a retrofit for the 37 owners, which included brackets, arms and bushings. He also showed me where the original radio antenna went under the running boards. It has since been replaced with a side cowl outside antenna. Jon has owned this car since college, way back in the late sixties. In fact this is only the fifth car he has ever owned and still has the last three.

Alice and I are going to try and finish up the gable end of garage with insulation. It is the last piece of the insulation puzzle. Once the insulation is done I can move over the shelving and begin putting stuff in them.

But before we do that I get to head over to Greg's place for a couple of hours to help move airplanes and equipment around the hangar. Looking forward to it.

Edited August 4, 2015 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

It is Wednesday, August 5th PM. Spent the day down at Greg's place helping moving airplanes out of the hanger and out into the field for a photo shoot. Of course we had to move a big part of an airplane out and around the building to its new spot. It took about six of us and it just about killed us. That is a heavy airplane.

I will post pics in separate posts.

On the Avanti engine problem on Greg's car. He showed me the cam. It still looked fine. But he said that the three rod bearings were seized onto the cam and he had to cut them off. Funny, they still turned in the engine. I figure, oil starvation. The engine had less than a mile on it.

[unimogjohn]

This is the 1918 Curtis Jenny with the OX5 engine. The plane, just restored, is in final prep for its delivery. It is airworthy and is heading to Minnesota in less than a weeks time. It will be flight tested there. Going to be shipped by truck and then reassembled.

A truly beautiful airplane. I am humbled by the craftsmen that put her back together.

Here are the pics I took.

[unimogjohn]

Of course we had to move a 1908 Wright Flyer and a 1911 Wright EX airplanes out of the hanger in order to move another Curtiss Jenny that is under restoration. The EX is outfitted as the soda pop advertising airplane that barnstormed the countryside in the teens. The shop took the opportunity to get them out side for a photo shoot. It is hard to believe that these aircraft were the very start of aviation. Aviation sure has come a long way.

Edited August 5, 2015 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

This is the Jenny that is under restoration and the reason for all this movement of airplanes. Going to be another beautiful example of the airplane. Greg said that he is working on the engine in his shop.

[unimogjohn]

And here is the Wright Brothers' engine #33. It has never been in an airplane and only has factory hours on it. The engine cover is off so folks can peer inside. Ken Hyde, the owner of the engine and the Wright Experience said that he envisions that this engine could be the basis for a new airplane or even back to an aviation museum at some future time. This is one a perhaps half a dozen Wright produced engines that still exist, and the only one never flown.

The second engine is the Curtiss OX5. It is unrestored. Greg is using it a basis for his rebuilding efforts. It is period correct.

[unimogjohn]

And finally, yours truly, with with Wright EX. Had a great day.

Ken Hyde owns six examples of the Wright airplanes. He is going to bring them all together for a photo shoot in a month or so. Needless to say, I hope to be there. I am getting pretty good at pushing airplanes around.

[SeventhSon]

It is Wednesday, August 5th PM. Spent the day down at Greg's place helping moving airplanes out of the hanger and out into the field for a photo shoot. Of course we had to move a big part of an airplane out and around the building to its new spot. It took about six of us and it just about killed us. That is a heavy airplane.

I will post pics in separate posts.

On the Avanti engine problem on Greg's car. He showed me the cam. It still looked fine. But he said that the three rod bearings were seized onto the cam and he had to cut them off. Funny, they still turned in the engine. I figure, oil starvation. The engine had less than a mile on it.

Almost like a tolerance was off - hope they weren't Chinese bearings.

[packick]

For what it's worth, I just finished reading David McCullough's book "The Wright Brothers."  Excellent book!  I didn't know that before they made the actual first flight, they spent several years at Kitty Hawk experimenting with gliders to get the wings, turning process, and center of gravity just right.  The book also spends quite a bit of time on the 1908 Flyer.  The one thing that I got the wrong impression of from the book is the size of the 1908 engine.  I thought it was a lot smaller than what is on this replica.  I am sure the replica is correct.

[unimogjohn]

Joe, the engine was of their own design also. Made entirely in house. Lots of light weight mods too. But barely enough HP to get the airplane to fly. I think that it was in the mid 20 HP range. Greg also said that the props only turn at 450 rpm.

Speaking of Greg. Here is his Wednesday PM report.

"A big day here at Hyde Manor, lots of pictures but a balky computer says three's the limit.

So these shots will be of my son Nathan who wanted to spend the evening with the REO and me. Getting it ready for the Ford Museum Old Car Festival in September which will be here before you know it.

Tonight we changed out a lower radiator hose, hard as a rock. Nate was good help. We got that and a couple other little things done, then it was off to the races. After reinforcing the start and run procedures, it was off to the races. A quick operational check and he soloed for the first time. If it had been a Piper Cub, it would be proper protocol to cut off his shirt tail.

The other pic is of the Avanti 5054 camshaft problem. Note the galled bearing still clinging to it's journal. Had to split and spread them to free the shaft. I have yet to measure the cams but at first glance the shaft looks ok. Stay tuned.

Tomorrow when this computer feels better, has gotten some rest, I'll send out some photos from today's aero movements."

=

[unimogjohn]

It is Thursday, August 6th, PM. I had to do farm stuff this morning so I stayed out of garage and away from the old cars. But at about 2 PM I received a call from David Coco, Trimacar on this forum. He just had lunch with Greg, and was going to pass by my place. He wanted to drop by and do some work on the 1923 McLaughlin Buick's side curtains.

I told David to come on over. So I got the 23 out of the trailer and into the garage. David pulled up just as I was starting the car, and he guided me into the garage.

Then he got to work fitting and adding lift the dot clips and sockets. He is about 95% done. He ran out of the fitting, and I could not find mine. So he will come back another day to finish up.

But the curtains looks great on the car. Here are a couple of pics. I have the curtains loosely fitting for now as we adjust things.

The car looks great with its side curtains. It is really a task to put them all on. Must have been daunting in cold and wet weather.

[trimacar]

Just to be clear (so to speak), John hasn't removed the protective film from the clear windows, thus the blue tint...enjoyed our visit, and the new building is GREAT!!

Edited August 7, 2015 by trimacar (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

Thanks David, I should have noted the window tint.

It is Friday, August 7th. In the hangar at the Wright Experience I noted several ten lb fire extinguishers protecting the airplanes. Been thinking of my puny 2.5 lb now hanging in the new garage. So I ordered two ten pound extinguishers.

It is a rumor that Rob B's truck broke down on the way to the meet. So rather than wait for parts and repair, he just pulled into a Ford dealership and bought a new one. I am sure that we will hear more on that from Greg.

And Greg has a Rob B report for us.

"This just in! Friends Rob Burchill and Mike Zerega have surfaced driving the REO in Minnesota.

They are taking part in the annual New London to New Brighton early car tour (pre 1908 or any 2 cylinder car)s.

Looks like they are navigating in some inclement weather (note the Model S Ford with full curtains and storm front). Does Rob appear to have "gotten out and gotten under"?

No official word as of yet."

>

=

[unimogjohn]

It is Sunday, August 9th, PM. Just got back from Greg's place. Helped put in the Curtiss Jenny to the big tuck for its trip west. Lots of moving and bracing for the trip. This airplane is not going to move. Spent about three hours loading it up. We had about a dozen or so folks helping so it was not too bad to load. Pushing the fuselage up the ramp and into the trailer was a tough go.

Ken Hyde, the owner of the Wright Experience, gave us a Jenny tee shirt for our efforts, and I stole my white gloves that we had to wear handling the airplane as it was all detailed for it's delivery to the new owner.

I spent yesterday and this morning hanging insulation. Still have a bit more to go. Working at the peak of the roof. Hate it.......

I also positioned the metal shelving where they are going to live. Now I can start moving stuff in. I am going to work on the work bench area over the next few days. Have to build a solid workbench and move in a couple of work tables. I also have a couple of tall storage shelves to go in also.

And on the back roads to Greg's place I stopped and took a pic of the Jaguar parked next to a very old general store that once operated in the area.

Edited August 9, 2015 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

Monday morning, August 10th. Here is a Greg report for your morning coffee.

"Pics of the canvas boots that David "trimacar" Coco stitched for me to hopefully save my Michelin's, which are getting thin enough to see the underlayment.

Secured with .o62 mechanics wire, the tire is then inflated to tighten and help keep them in place. If this works out, when he makes the other three I'll maybe use double sided carpet tape to also assist in keeping them in place.

All this is out of desperation because I am unable to locate any other Michelin 860 x 85 clinchers on the planet. This may buy the old car some time and some limited use. We'll see."

=

[trimacar]

Sheesh, this was a prototype tire cover, to see how it fits and if it'll stay on the tire when slowly driven....if I'd known the world was going to see it, would have stitched straighter!!  I CAN sew a straight line, even around a curve!!

[Spinneyhill]

Any chance you could get them retreaded? Truck style even, just the tread?

[unimogjohn]

Still Monday, but PM. If you are all getting bored with this, just let me know and I will ease off a bit.

Today I was researching a smaller lift recommendation for a forum member, who will remain nameless for now; and came across a layout for the lift arms. Seems I have them backwards. The smaller arm should be in the front and the long one on the rear. I have them reversed. Three of us looked at the manual and we guess that the long ones were in the front. Oh well. I think I can get them moved myself if Alice pulls the big pins. As they say, "learn from other's mistakes". It also said that the length of the car distribution should be approximately 30% in the front and 70% in the rear.

Today was storage unit placement day. I have six that I assembled. They are now in their permanent home place. Alice and I also hauled an old storage cabinet out of the shed. Man, that is one heavy cabinet. But with the help of a furniture dolly and the Kubota we got it to the garage and put in place. I have to do some heavy duty cleaning to make it half way decent. But it is a garage and not a palace.

Here are pics of the storage units. I tried to put them where they would not be in the way of getting around the cars or the opening of their doors. I succeeded.

I have started to load them up, but I am sure that things will move five times before they are finally settled with all their goodies neatly arranged and handy.

Edited August 11, 2015 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

It is Wednesday, August 12th, PM. Spent the day hauling boxes of stuff to the new garage. I have found parts I forgot I had, especially for the 1989 Ford Taurus SHO. I have a pile of them so far, and I know where more boxes are. And talk about oil filter! Have have over fifty for the Trailblazer and Suburban; and thirty for the Avanti. What was I thinking?

The two 10 lb fire extinguishers arrived yesterday, and I put them up in the garage this morning. I feel a bit safer now.

We decided that the Jaguar will be taken to the AACA Hershey show in October. It will be the first time that it will be shown and judged at a AACA event. We have to register by Saturday so will do that tomorrow to make sure that we get in. Will put it on the open trailer and go up early that Saturday morning.

[MCHinson]

Sounds like you should get a swap meet space, go up earlier, and sell some oil filters.

[Ben Bruce aka First Born]

 But I was going to drive them more+++++++

 

  I admire your garage. But it WILL fill up. 

 

  Ben

Edited August 13, 2015 by First Born (see edit history)

[avantey]

John- So what is the piece price on Avanti filters these days?  Or you could put them in my spot on Chocolate field, helps fill up the table.  Your garage is an awesome project, wish I could do it just for the lifts!  If you go to Hershey I will try to get over to the show field and meet you.  Usually by Saturday I am so whipped from walking, talking and selling on the chocolate field the show field is a loong trek......

[unimogjohn]

Bill, you will have to let me know where your vendor space is at Hershey. I plan on coming up early in the week to walk the fields and the car corral.

Ben, it is already filling up. I just have too much stuff, aka junk. I still have a couple of days worth of stuff to move. But I can already see light in the house garage.

On filters, I seem to have a bundle for the SHO too. Have not moved them over yet. I will give you a count when I do. When a local auto parts business went kaput, I ran in and bought all the SHO filters they had. I remember they were .25 cents each. What a score.

For the winter I plan on putting the SHO into the garage. I have lots of space in between the second and third bay. I have to get a couple more wheel dollys from Harbor Freight so I can move it about. I am going to leave the four post lift in the second bay for now. Seems like a good spot for it, and it is easy to get the cars in and out of the driveway.

[unimogjohn]

Still Thursday, but PM. And we have as report from Greg.

"Taking advantage of space in the main hangar. The REO is in good company. Duplicates of the Wright Brothers' 1909 Signal Corps Flyer, a 1910 Montgomery machine and a 1911 Model EX make it a great place to do some cleaning and a lube job.

Also enclosed is a photo essay of erecting a copy of the Wright's launch derrick.

Removed from our storage, it was assembled, pulled upright and then Scott scaled it to thread the block and tackle for the 1500 pounds of weight which when released will catapult the Flyer for short field takeoffs. We have yet to lay the rail.

Unnecessary for flying at Kitty Hawk, they used it from 1904 into 1910. Although good for an instant takeoff, it is an ungainly system because when the wind changes, so must the direction of the rail."

=

Edited August 13, 2015 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

Oh, was just informed by Packick (Joe Hopkins) on this forum that he had made a decision based on my posts. Joe, tell the group or I will.

[packick]

I have known John for almost 40 years now and he has a knack for getting me to spend money.  When laptops first came out I tried his out and ended up buying one; when HD TVs first came out I saw his and ended up buying one; when DVRs first came out I tried his and ended up buying one; and when we came back to his house one year after him getting me all worked up at the Hershey car corral, I ended up purchasing my 1955 Buick Century 2-Dr. Hardtop.

 

Well, now he talked me into purchasing a 2-post lift.  I placed the order yesterday and expect to pick it up sometime next week.  One saying John has beat into my head over the years is, “It’s only money.”

 

But, I may have won in the end.  I built my garage about 10 years ago.  John as seen it several times and maybe it influenced him to build his.  “It’s only money, John.”

[unimogjohn]

Joe, I must admit that your great garage was a big motivator for going big.

It is Friday morning, August 14th, early AM. Oh no, found more filters, these are for Brownie the Van. Did not count them. Will go on the self in the new garage today.

And we have an airplane report from Greg.

"This just in without description. Typical Andrew King.

He had called me today from Minnesota to ask about some oil details of the OX-5 in the Jenny just shipped out. Didn't hear any more from him until this. Figured no news is good news.

Andrew and I do go back a ways. First met him in '92 when he joined me in Ken's employment. Practically born and raised at Cole Palen's Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, he's made early flight his passion and career .

He had fled Kermit Weeks' operation in Florida immediately after Hurricane Andrew. Not only did Kermit's aircraft collection get smashed up but so did our Andrew's personal puddle jumper. Needing another he heard of a '39 Taylorcraft, went to Florida to see it and paid for it. Only on his flight home did he find that it lost oil pressure after twenty minutes. Flew on anyway.

The engine came out and he decided its 65 hp Continental air cooled would be my first aircraft engine overhaul. When completed, we put it back on the airframe, he flew it around the patch and satisfied that it might work , he announced " There's a fly-in this weekend at Horn Point (across the Chesapeake Bay). Your're going too. If I get wet, you get wet!"

Never did any body of water look any bigger, and nobody went swimming. We've been good friends ever since and he's included me in a great number of once in a lifetime adventures.

Knowing his or anyone's life may be clinging to my work makes this aviation business quite demanding. Very unsettling knowing that something as simple as a screw not tight enough could make the difference whether or not someone makes it back.

If you would like something to lie awake at night and worry about, overhaul an OX-5 and give it to a friend to fly behind."